scholarly journals Regional study hubs: Increasing student engagement to support regional students facing high first-year attrition risk factors

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Davis ◽  
Duncan Taylor

The Country Universities Centre (CUC) network of regional study hubs are an emerging tool for supporting regional students to achieve success in higher education. The CUC cohort of students, and regional students more generally, face several risk factors for first-year attrition including: external mode of study, over 25 years of age, part-time study load, alternative pathways to admission, and medium to low SES. In addition, work-life balance, financial considerations, and access to technology all create barriers to study for these students. The CUC facilities and staff provide academic, administrative and pastoral support to students, as well as creating a learning community to facilitate student-to-student interactions. The positive effect of the CUC support is shown by means of a survey and student case-studies.

Author(s):  
Lynn M. Boettler ◽  
Ruth A. Goldfine ◽  
Don W. Leech ◽  
Gerald R. (Jerry) Siegrist

In this study, retention and academic performance of students enrolled in four different versions of a first-year seminar at a large, public 4-year university were compared for a 2-year period. The first-year seminars examined were 3-credit courses with either traditional, global, community engagement, or leadership themes and were essentially required of all first-year, full-time students. Statistical analysis using logistic regression and analysis of covariance were employed to determine whether differences existed. In addition, the variables of gender, race, high school grade point average, American College Testing/Scholastic Aptitude Test scores, type of instructor (full time or part time), and enrollment in a learning community were considered covariates in data analysis. The study revealed no significant differences in first-year to second-year retention rate or in academic performance as measured by college grade point average for the four different versions of the seminar; however, enrollment in a learning community did have significant impact on retention, even after controlling for covariates known to strongly affect retention.


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 158-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saramarie Eagleton

Lecturers have reverted to using a “blended” approach when teaching anatomy and physiology. Student responses as to how this contributes to their learning satisfaction were investigated using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of closed- and open-ended questions that were based on three determinants of learning satisfaction: perceived course learnability, learning community support, and perceived learning effectiveness. Regarding course learnability, students responded positively on questions regarding the relevance of the subject for their future careers. However, students identified a number of distractions that prevented them from paying full attention to their studies. As far as learning community support was concerned, respondents indicated that they were more comfortable asking a peer for support if they were unsure of concepts than approaching the lecturing staff. Most of the students study in their second language, and this was identified as a stumbling block for success. There was a difference in opinion among students regarding the use of technology for teaching and learning of anatomy and physiology. From students' perceptions regarding learning effectiveness, it became clear that students' expectations of anatomy and physiology were unrealistic; they did not expect the module to be so comprehensive. Many of the students were also “grade oriented” rather than “learning oriented” as they indicated that they were more concerned about results than “owning” the content of the module. Asking students to evaluate aspects of the teaching and learning process have provided valuable information to improve future offerings of anatomy and physiology.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalal Alkazemi ◽  
Munirah Albeajan ◽  
Stan Kubow

Objective. Early feeding and infant exposures have been suggested as potential risk factors for immunoglobulin E- (IgE-) mediated food allergy (FA). We aimed to evaluate the association between IgE-mediated FA in children and early exposures including the child’s nutritional status, breastfeeding and its duration, the age at which the solid food was first introduced, antibiotic exposure during the first year of life, and the child’s vitamin D status during infancy. Design. A case-control study. Setting and Subjects. Children aged 0–13 years were recruited from pediatric allergy and immunology clinics (PAICs) located at major government hospitals in Kuwait (total FA cases: n=100; boys = 67%), and healthy controls (n=100, boys 55%) were recruited from various vaccination units at primary healthcare centers. Results. Cow’s milk allergy was the most common type of FA. FA status was independently associated with the early exposures of exclusive breastfeeding (aOR = 15.55 (3.26–74.19), p=0.001), vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency during infancy (aOR = 5.42 (1.92–15.30), p=0.001), and antibiotic exposure during the first year of life (aOR = 5.00 (1.58–15.84), p=0.006). Conclusions. FA is highly prevalent among children in Kuwait, and our data indicate that early nutrition-related and antibiotic exposures are associated with FA risk.


2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212098252
Author(s):  
Ziqian Zhu ◽  
Yan He ◽  
Jiezheng Yang ◽  
Qiaoli Li ◽  
HuanHuan Cheng ◽  
...  

Purpose: To compare the quality of life of senior first-year students with normal vision and myopia, and to explore the risk factors related to quality of life in students with myopia. Methods: In this study, 1103 senior first-year students were enrolled in ten high schools. These students were divided according to the diopter degree, with 916 myopia students and 187 normal vision students. Visual function indexes, such as naked eye vision, were measured and recorded, and social demographic indexes and the National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) was used. The differences in quality of life between the two groups were compared. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the possible risk factors for quality of life in myopia students. Results: In the NEI VFQ-25, the total quality of life scores of myopia students (77.06 ± 15.66) were lower than those of normal vision students (85.49 ± 12.37). The difference was statistically significant ( p = 0.007). In the correlation analysis, the total scores of quality of life in myopia students were positively correlated with wearing glasses ( p = 0.049), and were negatively correlated with study time ( p = 0.029). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that study time, wearing glasses and age were risk factors affecting quality of life in myopia students. Conclusion: Our results show that senior first-year myopia students have lower quality of life scores than students with normal vision. Study time, wearing glasses and age are risk factors for quality of life in senior first-year myopia students.


2020 ◽  
pp. 51-56
Author(s):  
Т.В. Кочетова ◽  
А.В. Погодина ◽  
М.А. Харченко

В настоящей статье представлены результаты экспериментального исследования динамики когнитивного компо- нента социальной установки начинающих водителей. Приведены данные анализа психометрических показателей, характеризую- щих уровень осведомленности о факторах риска дорожно-транспортной среды, – вождение в нетрезвом состоянии и скоростное вождение. Показано, как дополнительные знания об этих факторах риска приводят к изменению установки на безопасное вождение и в дальнейшем могут обусловливать количество реальных нарушений правил дорожного движения в течение первого года стажа водительскойдеятельности. This article presents the results of an experimental research of the dynamics of the cognitive component of the social attitudes of novice drivers. The data of the analysis presents the psychometric indicators that characterized of knowledge about the risk factors of the road safety – drunk driving and speeding driving. This research shows how additional knowledge about these risk factors leads to a change in the social attitude towards safe driving and can determine the number of the violations of the traffic rules during the first year of driving experience.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 895-901
Author(s):  
Anne L. Wright ◽  
Catharine J. Holberg ◽  
Marilyn Halonen ◽  
Fernando D. Martinez ◽  
Wayne Morgan ◽  
...  

Objective. To investigate the natural history of and risk factors for allergic rhinitis in the first 6 years of life. Methods. Parents of 747 healthy children followed from birth completed a questionnaire when the child was 6 years old. Data were obtained regarding physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis (PDAR), associated symptoms, and age at onset. Risk-factor data were taken from earlier questionnaires, and data regarding immunoglobulin E (IgE) and skin-test reactivity were obtained at age 6. Results. By the age of 6, 42% of children had PDAR. Children whose rhinitis began in the first year of life had more respiratory symptoms at age 6 and were more likely to have a diagnosis of asthma. Early introduction of foods or formula, heavy maternal cigarette smoking in the first year of life, and higher IgE, as well as parental allergic disorders, were associated with early development of rhinitis. Risk factors for PDAR that remained significant in a multivanate model included maternal history of physician-diagnosed allergy (odds ratio: 2.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.35-3.54), asthma in the child (4.06, 2.06-7.99), and IgE greater than 100 IU/mL at age 6 (1.93, 1.18-3.17). The odds for atopic as opposed to nonatopic PDAR were significantly higher only among those with high IgE and those who had dogs. Conclusion. Allergic rhinitis developing in the first years of life is an early manifestation of an atopic predisposition, which may be triggered by early environmental exposures.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document